Wild Australia (flying foxes)

Okay. They’re not foxes. They’re bats but not ordinary bats. They have a wingspan of more than 70cm (over 2ft) and their main food is fruit. There was once a colony in the mangrove swamps near us. Their constant screeching formed a background noise and we got used to it; then one day it was eerily quiet.

The bats had relocated to a patch of eucalypts beside our local pub and were making a nuisance of themselves. The beer garden used to be a place for a quiet chat. Now, you have to yell to make yourself heard.

We went outside and found that the bats had gone.

My book on native animals describes bats as nocturnal. That means they are meant to sleep during the day and most do. They wrap their wings about their bodies and hang upside down like seedpods - but there are exceptions to this simple rule.


As in all societies, it’s the delinquents that cause problems. They are forever flying off and picking fights. Take a look at the vicious character in the photograph. He’s attacking an innocent sleeper and trying to dislodge him from his perch.


And it’s not just the noise. The creature’s toilet habits are a major cause for concern. They’re siezed by an uncontrollable urge to defecate upon take-off and that causes serious problems if you own a pub with a car park below the flight path.


Bat poo contains all the essential ingredients of paint stripper. The evil smelling green ooze cuts into the paintwork of cars and people have stopped going to the pub for that reason.
 
Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. The pub has lost some regulars but gained others. The tour buses have started coming to observe the spectacle.

The best time is late evening when the bats are preparing to fly off for a bite to eat. Thousands circle overhead before making off. The buses disgorge their passengers. Eyes turn skywards. Cameras click. The bats leave and everyone troops into the pub’s bistro.

The photograph below gives an indication of what the phenomenon is like when it gets into full swing. Light levels are low by then and it's just about impossible get a descent shot of the thousands of bodies circling ovehead. If I ever manage to take a better photograph, I'll substitute it.

PS  The flying fox has an attractive silky skin and is claimed to make a good pet by a certain sort of bat lover. Health authorities warn owners to wear protective clothing and seek immediate medical advice if scratched or bitten by their little friend.